A COURT in Thailand today upheld a two-year prison sentence for a lawmaker from the progressive People’s Party for defaming the monarchy in a speech she made four years ago.

The appeal court in Bangkok granted Chonthicha Jangrew’s request for bail, which was set at 150,000 baht (£3,400).

Ms Chonthicha said she would appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. If she had been denied bail, she would have been immediately removed from her position as a member of parliament.

Ms Chonthicha’s case is related to a speech she gave during a 2021 political rally in which she demanded the release of all political prisoners.

She was found guilty for parts of the speech alleging that the then-government, led by Prayuth Chan-ocha, changed a law to give more power to King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Ms Chonthicha was formally sentenced last year to three years in prison but that was reduced to two years because of her cooperation with the court.

Criticism of Thailand’s monarchy remains taboo and insulting or defaming key royal family members is punishable by up to 15 years in prison under the law commonly known as Article 112.

Ahead of the ruling, Ms Chonthicha told journalists that her case was important because it highlighted to Thais and the world that the law suppresses freedom of opinion.